A listing that is advertised as an "as is" sale can be a put-off to buyers. They might assume that something is wrong with the property that will cost a lot to repair. If they have little free time or money, they might decide before even taking a look that this isn't the house for them.  more...

Refinance applications jumped during the first week of 2008, according to a recent weekly survey from the Mortgage Bankers Association. The catalyst was lower interest rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages that hovered below 6 percent on average at the end of the first week in January, and rates have fallen further since then.

During the recent years of record home buying, most buyers opted for adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) rather than fixed-rate financing.  more...

Most homeowners expect the value of their homes will increase when they spend money on remodeling. However, this is often not the case. The recent Cost vs. Value Report prepared by Remodeling magazine in conjunction with the National Association of Realtors makes this point abundantly clear.  more...

There is no foolproof strategy for buying a property at just the right price. There are several reasons for this. In the first place, although the listing inventory is high in most places, sellers are not equally motivated to sell.

There are sellers who would like to sell, but who don't have to sell. If they don't get their price, they either stay put or rent out the property until the market turns. Sellers who don't need to sell are often resistant to negotiating the price.  more...